Martin Davey Fine Art

Oil and Acrylic painting

Mudeford Quay Christchurch from Hengistbury Head

20" x 16" acrylic on paper

This painting shows Mudeford Quay, near to the town of Christchurch, Dorset which is situated at the entrance to Christchurch harbour. The dominant building is the Haven House Inn, however over the past few decades much development has taken place here as it is a very popular location for tourists. It is also a popular location of fishing and fishing boats can be seen unloading their catch during the day at the quay side. The children are on the sand spit at Hengistbury Head, which is on the opposite side of the harbour, and the small section of water is known as 'The Run', and is the only entrance to the harbour. The name possibly comes from the 1700s when smuggling was rife here and in 1784 a skirmish took place between the bootleggers and customs officers. Despite its small appearance the water has an extremely fast flow to the sea and is a taxing route for boats and yachts, and swimming near this outlet is considered dangerous. Christchurch Harbour is a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). The 352 hectare site is designated both for its biological and geological interest.A ferry links the two sides of the entrance and takes a few minutes. To drive it takes approx 14 mins and then there is a 30min walk to get to the location as shown. The painting was done using acrylic paint on stretched paper and has a 20” x 16” image area, and was completed during November 2016.